Fri, 08 Sep 2006

Netflix Sues Blockbuster for Patent Infringement

If you still don't believe the patent system is broken, read and learn. Then do the right thing and avoid Netflix like the plague that they are...

Is the concept of renting movies over the Internet an original idea that deserves patent protection? Netflix claims it is, and is suing Blockbuster for patent infringement, alleging they are copying its seven-year-old online movie-rental business method. Netflix argues that it has patents covering its many online features, including allowing subscribers to keep DVDs for as long as they want without incurring a late fee, obtaining new DVDs upon return of those already watched, and prioritizing their own personal movie list. Blockbuster, for its part, has counterclaimed, insisting that Netflix is trying to monopolize the online movie-rental industry and stifle competition. Blockbuster also alleges that Netflix obtained its patents fraudulently by failing to disclose pertinent information to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and further contends there is nothing original about renting videos online in the first place.

(link) [Slashdot]

/Copywrongs | 1 writeback | permanent link

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On 9/9/2006 21:33:18
SB wrote

Eh, Netflix might have it's head up it's behind about this, but it's actually a pretty decent service. Especially if you rent and return things really really quickly but don't want to see any new releases right away. The trick is to make your rentals worth the fee you pay every month, if you end up renting only one movie and you pay $10 or more a month for the privillege, might as well just buy it. Blockbuster on the other hand, will never get my business again. The brick & mortar stores would routinely make up late fees on items we never rented, then had the nerve to never check IDs so someone two counties over rented on our number, and they tried to hit our credit rating when the movies disappeared. Yeah, not a professional way to go about doing business.

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